"Thank you for your help. School will be over after the next class, right?"

"Okay, you stay here." After the old principal left, Liu Jingze was left alone in the office. He was starting to understand Zhang Hongmei less and less.

I initially thought she was just a clever little girl, but everything that happened afterward shattered my expectations.

The more I thought about it, the more conflicted I felt about Zhang Hongmei. I was becoming increasingly unable to extricate myself from this situation.

When Zhang Hongmei returned, the old principal did not go into his office.

"Hongmei, hurry up and wash your hands, the pancakes are all baked."

"Where's the principal?" Zhang Hongmei asked while washing her hands.

"They said they went to tell Shi Tou and the others to come back with us after class, but they've been gone for a while and haven't come back yet."

"Oh, I'll go find it, let's eat together."

Just as Zhang Hongmei finished speaking, the old principal returned. "Why are you back so soon?"

"I'm hungry, I'm waiting for food." Actually, Zhang Hongmei still hasn't recovered, because she feels bad that she made Liu Jingze go hungry.

"I made this tea, have a few sips first, it'll help calm things down." The old principal handed Zhang Hongmei a cup of water. He also poured one for Liu Jingze.

After drinking the water, Zhang Hongmei felt particularly uncomfortable in her stomach, with a dull, aching pain. Could it be that she had really choked on the wind?

"Jingze, hurry up and eat. Principal, have one too. I made the plain one."

"I can't eat too much; I'm getting old, and my spleen and stomach can't handle it anymore."

"Then take it back for dinner." Zhang Hongmei said as she stuffed the pancake into the old principal's hand. She picked up a piece for herself, tore it in half, and handed it to Liu Jingze.

"Brother Jingze, half is enough for me, you can have the rest."

Liu Jingze smiled and took it, "Can't you eat more?"

"My belly is this big, there's nothing I can do." Actually, Zhang Hongmei didn't want to eat a single bite; she was just forcing herself to eat.

Liu Jingze baked the tortillas until they were crispy. Zhang Hongmei took a bite and forced herself to swallow it, but she felt so disgusted that she couldn't help but spit it out.

Liu Jingze rushed over and helped Zhang Hongmei up. "Hongmei, what happened to you? Come on, I'll take you to the hospital."

"No need, I'm fine. I was probably just scared. Don't worry."

"You're already like this, what are you still arguing about?"

"Brother Jingze, I really won't go." Zhang Hongmei looked at Liu Jingze pitifully.

Liu Jingze closed his eyes, then opened them again, glared fiercely at Zhang Hongmei, and pulled her back to her seat.

"I've made all the exceptions I could for you."

"Brother Jingze, I'll just drink water, I really can't eat anything."

Liu Jingze sighed as he looked at the dejected Zhang Hongmei, then took the water cup from the worried principal and placed it in Zhang Hongmei's hands.

"Jingze, go eat. I can clean up by myself."

Liu Jingze ignored Zhang Hongmei and instead used a broom and dustpan to clean up what she had vomited on. He then washed his hands, sat down next to Zhang Hongmei, took the piece of food she had bitten, and ate it in a few bites.

The old headmaster went out and came back a little while later with a few hawthorns and a ceramic jar.

I washed the hawthorns, crushed them, and put them in a cup. Then I scooped out two spoonfuls of honey from the earthenware jar and brewed them with warm tea.

"You drink this." He said, handing it to Zhang Hongmei.

"Don't be so stubborn, why don't you go to the hospital?"

"Please spare me, I hate hospitals the most. Besides, I'm really fine, I'll just go home and get some sleep." After saying that, she smiled ingratiatingly at the old principal.

Liu Jingze finished his meal quickly. "Principal, I'll take this girl back first. Please tell Shi Tou to push the car back."

"I don't want to. How about you push me in the car later? It's too embarrassing to be carried around at my age."

Zhang Hongmei remained resolute and ultimately did not leave, choosing to wait for Shi Tou and the others.

Sitting to one side, Liu Jingze inwardly berated himself. He was so unprincipled and too soft-hearted towards Zhang Hongmei. He was truly pathetic.

The bell rang, signaling the end of get out of class. Shi Tou and the other four knew that Zhang Hongmei was waiting for them in the principal's office, so they all rushed over. These were all children Zhang Hongmei had taught, and they had a very deep affection for her.

"Sister Hongmei, what's wrong?" Sanya came over and took Zhang Hongmei's hand.

"I'm fine. Let's go back."

The children all greeted Liu Jingze politely, unlike their friendly and casual attitude towards Zhang Hongmei.

"Brother Jingze, I can leave now. Wait until I feel unwell before taking the car."

"Then don't push yourself. Tell me if you're tired."

Shi Tou looked at Zhang Hongmei with concern. "Sister Hongmei, are you really alright? You look terrible."

"I'm really fine, I'm leaving now."

Because Zhang Hongmei walks slowly, it took her more than an hour to get back to Liujiatun.

"Hongmei, let's go to my house first. Your kang (heated brick bed) needs to be heated for a while. I'll take you to my house and then help you start the fire."

"No need, I can manage on my own. Let's just go straight home."

"Okay, let's go back together."

They arrived at Zhang Hongmei's house. Liu Jingze had just lit a fire when Li Cuihua came over. "Hongmei, what's wrong? Sanya said you look terrible."

"Auntie, you're here. It's alright, I was just scared from the car ride, don't worry."

Third Aunt.

"Jingze is back too. You go home first, I'll heat the kang (heated brick bed)."

"Okay, I'll make you a bowl of noodles. You stay home and don't go out."

"Okay, I understand."

"Hongmei, did you get into university?" Li Cuihua asked Zhang Hongmei as she sat by the stove, tending the fire.

"I should be able to get in. My score is quite high. I applied to Capital University."

"That's wonderful! Your parents can rest in peace now. When are you leaving?"

"I'll go to the city on the 16th. Da Shan and the others will be back on the 28th. If they get their admission notices, I'll be relieved. If they don't, I'll go to the school on the 16th to check."

"The notification letter will definitely arrive."

"It's not certain, there might be special circumstances. Auntie, let's not tell anyone that I got into the Capital University yet, just say we're waiting for the notification."

"Okay, whatever you say. So you'll be going to the same school as Jingze?"

"Yes, now you don't have to worry about me when I go out." Zhang Hongmei was too weak to speak; her stomach was hurting terribly.

"Hongmei, what's wrong?" Li Cuihua was startled and immediately stood up to help Zhang Hongmei up.

Zhang Hongmei was helped up and suddenly felt a warm flow gushing out from her lower body. Zhang Hongmei was so ashamed that she almost cried. Was she a pig? In fact, she had been showing signs of menstruation for a few days, but she hadn't paid any attention to it.

"Third Aunt, I think I've started my period."

"Then hurry up and come inside. Did you prepare any menstrual pads?"

"No, this is my first time here, I wasn't prepared at all."

"No, you stay by the stove and I'll make you one."

"Third Aunt, the cotton cloth and cotton are all in the cupboard."